The Cultural World of the Bible by Victor H. Matthews

Author:Victor H. Matthews [Matthews, Victor H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: REL006160, REL006630, REL006080, Jews—Social life and customs—To 70 A.D., Palestine—Social life and customs—To 70 A.D., Bible—Antiquities
ISBN: 9781441228253
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2015-06-04T16:00:00+00:00

Given the uncertainties of life in the ancient Near East, with the real and constant dangers of drought, famine, and war, it is not surprising to find that the Israelites chose to adopt some of the religious practices of their neighbors. That would have included the use of images (such as the terra cotta figurines found at many sites) as well as specific rituals, prayers, and sacrifices. Among the Canaanite communities, worship of fertility gods also included the use of both male and female cult prostitutes (Deut. 23:17). Sexual activity at local shrines was designed to promote the fertility of the land by encouraging the storm god Baal and his consort Asherah to engage in divine intercourse, causing abundant harvests and a growth in herds.

The exact extent to which Israelites incorporated non-Yahwist religious rituals is uncertain. However, there are a number of instances in the narrative that suggest it did occur. In 1 Samuel 2:22, Eli’s sons subvert the activities of women whose job it is to clean up the debris of the sacrifices “at the entrance to the tent of meeting” at Shiloh (see Exod. 38:8). It is possible that by lying with these women, the priests are, in effect, promoting the use of cult prostitutes (Lev. 19:29). For this violation and others, all of the adult members of Eli’s priestly clan are condemned to die (1 Sam. 2:31–34), and his sons will die when the ark of the covenant is captured by the Philistines (1 Sam. 4:11).

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